Namibia - CountryWatch

Political Conditions Political Overview
The biggest political issue Namibia faced in 2003 and 2004 was the planned expropriation and resettlement
of farmland owned by commercial farmers. In November 2003, it was reported that the
Namibia Farmworkers Union (NFU) planned to take fifteen farms. This was allegedly postponed due
to interference by the Namibian government. The NFU, however, said its plan was to resettle six
Namibian farmers who had been unfairly fired and evicted from the Ongomba West Farm. The NFU
followed through with their plan in January 2004; however, police intervened.
Meanwhile, rumors circulated that the government was planning a "Zimbabwe-style" expropriation of
white farmers land. The government denied the plan. However, the Namibian government later sent
out notices to a dozen farmers in early 2004, informing them they were going to be offered just compensation
for their land in the resettlement process. Farmers would then be allowed to discuss the
terms with the government. One of the first farms notified of expropriation was the Ongombo West
Farm. Some claimed that this was a retaliatory move by the government against the farm, that had
resulted in the evicion of six farmers.
In 2004, President Nujoma announced he would not seek a fourth term as President of Namibia. He
endorsed Hifikepunyo Pohamba as the SWAPO candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. In
September 2004, a proposed retirement package was announced for Nujoma. In the package, he would
receive a tax-free pension equivalent to his salary, housing, three cars, and a staff of thirty for household
services and security.
Meanwhile, in March 2004, the World Food Program and the United Nations Children fund sought to
raise $6 million for Namibian children. The groups estimated that more than 600,000 children were in
dire need of help due to natural disasters, extreme poverty and disease.
In August 2004, Germany offered an official apology for the deaths of several tens of thousands of ethnic
Hereros during the colonial era. The apology, however, did not include monetary compensation for
the descendants of the victims.
Attention then turned to the presidential and parliamentary elections set for November 2004. On Nov.
15, 2004, Hifikepunye Pohamba won a landslide victory of 76 percent in the presidential race. As
noted above, Pohamba was endorsed by outgoing President Nujoma. Ben Ulenga -- the presidential
candidate representing the opposition party, Congress of Democrats -- won 7.3 percent. A third candidate,
Katuutire Kaura won 5.1 percent. Pohamba's South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)
also won 75 percent of the votes cast as well as 55 of 72 seats in parliament. Other parties won the
remaining seats, however, no one party garnered more than five seats respectively.
Opposition party members and supporters decried the election results are marred by irregularities.
Opposition groups later challenged the election results in the court. Following a recount, however,
Pohamba and SWAPO were declared to be the winners.
In March 2005, Pohamba was inaugurated as president and the new head of state. In his first official
address as president at his swearing in cermony, Pohamba said, "I accept this new duty as second president
of Namibia with great humility. We must uphold the legacy of the founding president and continue
with peace, stability and prosperity." The inauguration of Pohamba marked the end of the
Nujoma era. Nujoma has been regarded as the "father" of independent Namibia. Also in March 2005,
Prime Minister Nahas Angula took office and formed a government.
17 Namibia Review 2013